Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
SUNDAY, August 28
Romans 12:9-21. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.
Sometimes when we read Paul’s epistles they seem very general. But we need to remember that they were written to specific churches and to individuals he knew. They began in local situations and were addressed to local concerns. Reading them sympathetically, we realize that their local struggles nearly two millennia ago are not so different from our present day concerns. We can then take them as words to us also.
Today’s passage from Romans continues with instructions to the Roman church. He tells them to be full of love, hope, patience, and zeal. He instructs them to seek good, reject evil, live in harmony, never seek vengeance, and return persecution with blessing. It’s a wonderfully stirring list. But when we take these words into our own lives, we—like the Christians in Rome—are challenged. It’s easy to love people on the other side of the world, but sometimes harder to love those who live next door or under the same roof, or who sit in the pew in front of us, or attend “that other” church. That is the challenge of genuine love.
PRAY for the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion (CUAC) and the Diocese of Santiago (Philippines)
Ps 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c and Exodus 3:1-15—OR—Ps 26:1-8 and Jeremiah 15:15-21; Matthew 16:21-28
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.
A Meditation for Pentecost
New! Forward Day by Day is available on your Kindle or Nook!
Learn more about how you can support the Unapologetically Episcopalian Campaign to transform the church! Forward Movement stands ready -- and you can help. Don't forget to "like" Unapolgetically Episcopalian on Facebook.
Send Us Your Cat or Dog Photos!
Forward Movement is accepting photo submissions for EpiscoCats and EpiscoPups – our 15-month, wall-hanging calendars. If your pet is chosen, you’ll receive a photo credit and 5 complimentary copies of the calendar. Click here for submission guidelines!
Claim Your Free Gift Now! Simply subscribe to our e-news by using the form below. You will then be able to download our "Ten Ways to Pray" ebook!
Be sure to confirm your preferences and check your email after subscribing. The link to your free gift is found in your "Welcome" email.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
I often find it hard to let myself feel joy when someone else is suffering. The modern systems of communication let me know that someone is always suffering somewhere, so I become immobilized with worry and grief.